To Sean, social hierarchy had its value.
Of course, he wasn't referring to the current system of hereditary nobility, but rather the gap between the rich and the poor. In his eyes, if you wanted to obtain more, you had to put in more effort. That was the fundamental truth of the world. Why should someone who was lazy and contributed nothing enjoy the same lifestyle as those who worked for it?
While Sean accepted the existence of wealth disparity, he believed such hierarchies needed a leash to keep them in check. And that leash... was order.
Specifically, an order built upon the foundation of justice.
In other words, if you worked hard and climbed into the upper class, you were free to do as you pleased. If you wanted to flaunt your wealth every day, waste money on a whim, or even burn Belly for fun, that was your prerogative. No one had the right to judge you, because that wealth was the result of your own hard work.
However, the moment you used your status to do something you shouldn't—the moment you attempted to disrupt the order—Sean would tighten that leash until your head throbbed with pain. Or perhaps... he would simply crush your skull entirely.
To put it simply: wealth disparity was acceptable, but a privileged class that stood above the law was absolutely forbidden.
'''
A few days later, the World Economic Journal sent shockwaves through the world once again.
The content of the latest edition was simply too staggering to ignore. Morgans had dedicated an entire page to a detailed account of an incident where Dragon attacked a Marine convoy to rescue a pirate captured by Sean.
The skirmish had left eight Marines fighting for their lives and the rest of the crew injured. In a fury, Sean and Marine Branch 16 had retaliated by completely annihilating the Revolutionary Army's East Army in the East Blue. Every officer of the East Army, starting from the Army Commander Belo Betty, had been captured.
With this, the Revolutionary Army's influence in the East Blue had utterly collapsed.
Furthermore, according to inside sources, Dragon had eventually paid a price of two Devil Fruits to ransom Belo Betty. However, he showed no intention of rescuing the others, seemingly deciding that the remaining captives held no value.
Looking at the day's circulation numbers, Morgans was practically beaming with joy. In his office, the scene of him screaming for immediate reprints played out once again.
At the same time, the Five Elders received the news.
"What exactly is Sean playing at?" the blond member of the Five Elders roared, slamming the newspaper onto the table. "He finally managed to capture that woman, Belo Betty, and then he just lets her go?"
"Does he not realize how dangerous her abilities are?"
The World Government had been trying to capture the core cadres of the Revolutionary Army for years, and Belo Betty was one of their highest-priority targets. Yet, just as she was within their grasp, Sean had traded her away for two Devil Fruits? To the blond Elder, this felt like an act of betrayal against the World Government.
"Calm yourself. I think I understand Sean's logic," another Elder replied calmly. "Have you considered how Morgans obtained this information, and why the report is so meticulously detailed?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"You only see a transaction—Belo Betty exchanged for two Devil Fruits. But have you thought about the impact this report will have now that it's been leaked to the public?"
"What impact? It's just a trade," the blond Elder scoffed.
"No, no. You missed the two key points Morgans emphasized in the report."
The blond Elder paused, blinking. He slowly picked up the newspaper again. A man who had ascended to the position of one of the Five Elders was no fool; he had simply been too blinded by rage to think deeply. Now that he had been prompted, he scanned the text again, and a new realization dawned on him.
"I see..."
"Do you get it now?" the other Elder explained. "Sean first highlighted that Dragon risked everything to save his own son—who happens to be a pirate. Because of this impulsive action, the entire East Army was compromised, leading to the capture of numerous officers and soldiers."
"Right," the blond Elder nodded, his tone shifting. "And the second point is that Dragon was only willing to rescue Belo Betty, treating everyone else like disposable trash."
The blond Elder finally realized Sean's endgame.
If this deal had happened in secret, it would have been a simple exchange. But because it was leaked in such vivid detail, it became a weapon. How would the other members of the Revolutionary Army feel? Would they begin to doubt their leader?
Inevitably, they would. Their leader had jeopardized the entire East Army for the sake of a pirate son, and when the chance to rescue them came, he only saved one high-ranking officer while abandoning the rest.
Even if the effect wasn't immediate, Sean had successfully planted a time bomb within the heart of the Revolutionary Army. A bomb that would eventually explode.
'This was a hell of a deal,' the Elder thought.
"Exactly. With one move, Sean achieved three results," the other Elder continued. "First, he completely dismantled the East Army. Even if they want to rebuild, it won't happen quickly because Sean tore out the very skeleton of their organization."
"Second, he stripped Dragon of two Devil Fruits, effectively eliminating two potential future powerhouses for the Revolutionary Army."
"And third, he sowed the seeds of doubt regarding their leader. Once those seeds grow, their faith will collapse."
"Hehe, what a ruthless method..." the long-bearded Elder commented.
Thinking about it, this approach was far more sophisticated than their own. For a long time, the World Government's strategy against the Revolutionary Army had been the same old routine: intelligence, assassination, and suppression. Agents like CP9 were constantly tasked with killing key figures, but the results were marginal. The Revolutionary Army continued to grow, becoming an increasing nuisance.
Sean's method had provided the Five Elders with a completely new perspective.
"Indeed. As expected of someone under Lord Imu's special observation," the curly-haired Elder sighed. "It seems a waste for him to be a mere Branch Commander. Perhaps we should transfer him to lead a Cipher Pol division?"
"No, do not do anything unnecessary. Have you forgotten Lord Imu's words? We are not to interfere with Sean."
"Sigh, of course I remember. I just think it's a pity; a man with his talents is far more suited for our side."
"Let's set Sean aside for a moment," the blond Elder interrupted. "But what about the prisoners held by the 16th Branch? They have the East Army's vice-commander, all the remaining officers, and hundreds of elite soldiers. How should we handle them?"
"Are you suggesting we send them to Cipher Pol for interrogation?"
Chapter [X]: Silent Observers
"True. While they aren't core executives like Belo Betty, they should still be able to gather some intelligence."
"No, on second thought, forget it. If Dragon was willing to abandon them, it proves that their knowledge is limited. Besides, I doubt Sean will stop now that he's come this far. It's better if we don't interfere; letting him do as he pleases might lead to even more surprises."
"Fair point. In that case, we'll stay out of it and let Sean keep doing his thing!"
"Agreed!"
Just as the Five Elders reached this decision, the high command at Marine Headquarters was also convening a meeting.
In the end, they arrived at nearly the same conclusion.